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CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
UNDER 17 C.F.R. §§ 200.80(b)4, AND 240.24

Exhibit 10.53


AGREEMENT FOR SALE

AND

ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS

        THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of this 21 day of December, 2004 (the "Effective Date") by and between ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a subsisting corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware ("ISIS") and DRUG ROYALTY USA, INC., a subsisting corporation under the laws of the State of Nevada ("DRC").

RECITALS:

A.
Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings set forth in Schedule "A" hereto.

B.
ISIS is the exclusive owner of the Licensed Patent Rights and has granted to Eyetech, pursuant to the License Agreement, a non-exclusive license under the Licensed Patent Rights, including a right of sublicense, to make, have made, use and sell the Product world-wide.

C.
ISIS and DRC have entered into a non-binding letter of intent dated [***], 2004 (the "LOI"), pursuant to which ISIS has agreed to sell, assign, transfer, set-over and convey to DRC the Assigned Rights in consideration of the payment by DRC to ISIS of the Purchase Price. DRC and ISIS wish to enter into this Agreement to effect the sale, assignment, transfer, set-over and conveyance to DRC of the Assigned Rights on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals and mutual covenants set forth herein, the payment by DRC to ISIS of [***] US dollars (US$[***]) and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged), the parties agree as follows:


ARTICLE 1
ASSIGNMENT AND SALE

1.1    Sale and Assignment.    Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, ISIS hereby sells, assigns, transfers, sets-over and conveys to DRC all right, title and interest in and to the Assigned Rights free and clear of any Encumbrance. For greater certainty, DRC shall not purchase or assume any of ISIS' obligations under the License Agreement in connection with the foregoing, including any responsibility to prosecute and/or maintain the Patents or the Licensed Patent Rights.

        An example as to how royalty payments would be calculated and payable to DRC in connection with the Royalty Interest and to ISIS in connection with the ISIS Royalty Interest is set out in Schedule "B" hereto.

1.2    Purchase Price.



1.3    Eyetech Consent.    On or before Closing, ISIS shall obtain from Eyetech, in writing, a consent and agreement (the "Eyetech Consent") in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to DRC, providing, among other matters: (i) Eyetech's consent to the sale, assignment, transfer, set-over and conveyance by ISIS to DRC of the Assigned Rights and acknowledgement that DRC shall have the right to exercise such Assigned Rights directly against Eyetech; (ii) Eyetech's agreement to pay the Royalties to [***] (without any setoff against any amounts owing by ISIS to Eyetech) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the License Agreement, as amended in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

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(iii) Eyetech's agreement to provide directly to both DRC and ISIS copies of any royalty statements and other information that Eyetech is obligated to provide under the License Agreement in connection with the Royalties; (iv) Eyetech's agreement that ISIS may disclose to DRC information provided to ISIS by Eyetech pursuant to or in connection with the License Agreement; and (v) Eyetech's agreement to permit an independent, certified public accountant appointed by DRC, in ISIS' stead, to examine Eyetech's records and other material documents relating or relevant to the calculation of the Royalties or to the Net Sales of the Product associated therewith; and (vi) Eyetech's confirmation that DRC shall have the right to assign all right, title and interest in and to the Assigned Rights and the Eyetech Consent to a [***], at any time, without further notice to or consent from Eyetech. In connection with the foregoing, ISIS shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain from Eyetech on or before Closing, in writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to DRC, Eyetech's agreement to change the Reporting Periods under the License Agreement to calendar quarters.

1.4    Entitlement and Payments; No Offsets.


ARTICLE 2
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

        2.1    ISIS' Representations and Warranties.    Except as qualified by the exceptions set forth in Schedule "C" hereto (the "Schedule of Exceptions"), ISIS represents and warrants to DRC as follows and acknowledges that DRC is relying on such representations and warranties in entering into this Agreement:

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2.2    DRC's Representations and Warranties.    DRC represents and warrants to ISIS as follows and acknowledges that ISIS is relying on such representations and warranties in entering into this Agreement:

2.3    Knowledge.    Any reference in Sections 2.1 or 2.2 to "ISIS' knowledge", "DRC's knowledge" or any similar expressions shall mean the knowledge of any executive officer of ISIS or DRC or any attorney advising such party with respect to this Agreement, the Patents or the License Agreement, as applicable.

2.4    Survival of Representations and Warranties.    All representations and warranties of the parties hereunder shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and Closing without time limit. Any investigation or other examination that may have been made or may be made at any time by or on behalf of the party to whom representations and warranties are made shall not limit, diminish or in any way affect the representations and warranties in this Agreement, and each party may rely on the representations and warranties in this Agreement irrespective of any information obtained by it by any investigation, examination or otherwise unless such party has actual knowledge as at the Effective Date that such representations or warranties are false or incorrect.


ARTICLE 3
COVENANTS

3.1    Notification.

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3.2    Certain Conduct.    Without the prior written consent of DRC, ISIS shall not: (i) sell, assign, transfer, deliver, license or otherwise dispose of any of the Patents for use in the Field; (ii) create or permit to exist any Encumbrance (other than the Encumbrance created in favor of DRC under the Security Agreement) on the Patents, the License Agreement or the Assigned Rights; (iii) respond to any Communication that could adversely affect the exploitation of the Patents or the Product in the Field; (iv) amend or terminate the License Agreement or fail to perform and fulfill its obligations under the License Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof, except as permitted under Section 9.9 of the License Agreement; (v) consent to any assignment of the License Agreement by Eyetech; or (vi) agree to do any of the foregoing or take any other action that does or would materially reduce or otherwise materially adversely affect the Patents in the Field, the License Agreement or the Assigned Rights or cause any representation or warranty set forth in Section 2.1 to become untrue as of the date of such action, including (A) granting or permitting any license of the Patents, other than under the License Agreement, for use in the Field, (B) failing to diligently process, prosecute, and maintain in full force and effect the [***] Patents in each of the countries of the Major Market in which ISIS has an issued patent or pending patent application or (C) failing to diligently enforce in full force and effect the [***] Patents in the Field in each of the countries of the Major Market in which ISIS has an issued patent. For purposes of clarification, the granting of a Permitted License will not be deemed a violation of this Section 3.2.

3.3    Termination of License Agreement.    In the event that the License Agreement is terminated by ISIS with the prior written consent of DRC or by Eyetech, ISIS covenants to use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) negotiate, execute and deliver (i) a new license agreement for the license of the Licensed Patent Rights for use in the Field, (ii) if both parties agree, in good faith, that the negotiation, execution and delivery of such a new license agreement is highly unlikely, an assignment or sale of the Licensed Patent Rights for use in the Field, or (iii) any other arrangement for the exploitation of the Licensed Patent Rights for use in the Field, each on terms that are reasonably satisfactory to DRC, and (b) obtain all approvals and consents which are necessary or, in DRC's sole

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discretion, desirable in connection therewith, including a written consent of the other party to the New License Agreement substantially in the form of the Eyetech Consent. If ISIS does not complete such negotiation, execution and delivery and obtain such approvals and consents within [***] months following the termination of the License Agreement, then ISIS shall assist and cooperate with DRC, and DRC shall be authorized in the name of ISIS for the benefit of DRC, at DRC's sole discretion, cost and expense (including DRC's payment of ISIS' reasonable attorney fees in connection therewith, if any), to negotiate, execute and deliver a new license agreement for the license of the Licensed Patent Rights for use in the Field on the same or better terms (when taken as a whole) as the License Agreement. For avoidance of doubt, as between the parties hereto, the Royalty Interest shall be equal to (i) [***]% of all payments, property and other consideration that is less than or equal to [***] for any calendar years prior to 2010 plus the pro rated dollar amount attributable to any Additional Period, (ii) [***]% of all payments, property and other consideration that is greater than [***] but less than or equal to [***] for any calendar years prior to 2010 plus the pro rated dollar amount attributable to any Additional Period and (iii) [***]% of all payments, property and other consideration that is greater than [***] for any calendar years prior to 2010 plus the pro rated dollar amount attributable to any Additional Period (collectively, the "New Royalty Interest") under such new license, assignment or sale, or other arrangement (the "New License Agreement"). In such event, ISIS agrees to comply with the provisions of this Agreement in connection with the New License Agreement and references herein to Royalty Interest, the License Agreement, the Assigned Rights and the ISIS Rights shall be deemed to be references to the New Royalty Payments, the New License Agreement, all of the right, title and interest (but none of the obligations) of ISIS in and to the New License Agreement, and subject to ISIS' right to retain rights equivalent to the ISIS Rights, respectively, and references to Eyetech shall be deemed to be references to the other party to the New License Agreement.

3.4    Confidentiality.    All information furnished by DRC to ISIS or by ISIS to DRC in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, as well as the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, shall be kept confidential by ISIS and DRC and shall be used by ISIS and DRC only in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, except in connection with the enforcement of rights under this Agreement and except to the extent that such information (i) is already known by the party to whom the information is disclosed or in the public domain at the time the information is disclosed, (ii) thereafter becomes lawfully obtainable from other sources, (iii) is required to be disclosed in any document to be filed with any federal, state, provincial, municipal or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, or (iv) is required to be disclosed under securities laws or regulations applicable to ISIS, DRC or their respective affiliates, or by court or administrative order. Notwithstanding the foregoing, ISIS and DRC may disclose such information to their respective affiliates, directors, officers, investors, bankers, advisors, trustees and representatives (collectively "Representatives"), provided that such persons shall be informed of the confidential nature of such information and shall be obligated to keep such information confidential pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.4.

3.5    Performance of Obligations.

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3.6    Grant of Security Interest.    As general and continuing security for the due payment and performance of all of ISIS' obligations under this Agreement, the License Agreement and the ISIS Closing Documents, ISIS shall grant to DRC a first-ranking security interest in and to the Patents and the License Agreement (as it relates to the ISIS Rights but not the Assigned Rights) subject to the terms of a security agreement in form and substance satisfactory to both parties (the "Security Agreement"). The Security Agreement shall provide that, among other matters, subject to the terms and conditions hereof and thereof, (a) ISIS may exploit (including through granting Permitted Licenses) the Patents and the Licensed Patent Rights for any purpose other than in the Field and (b) DRC may only exercise its rights under the Security Agreement to the extent of its Damages and only as contemplated by part (ii) of Section 5.3(b) and Section 5.3(c), but not for breach of any other provision of this Agreement by ISIS. ISIS shall keep the Patents and the License Agreement free at all times from any Encumbrances, except the Encumbrance granted in favour of DRC or others pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Security Agreement.

3.7    No Liability.    DRC will have no liability to ISIS for any act, omission or failure to act by DRC on behalf of ISIS under Sections 3.3, 3.5 or 7.1 or for any act, omission or failure to act by DRC or any agent in connection with the Encumbrance granted to DRC under the Security Agreement, including in any enforcement or realization of such Encumbrance except for any loss or damage suffered by ISIS that results from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of DRC or any such agent. No such act, omission or failure to act by DRC or its agents shall relieve ISIS of any of its obligations hereunder or under the License Agreement.

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3.8    Books and Records.    ISIS will treat its sale and assignment to DRC of the Assigned Rights pursuant to Section 1.1 as a sale and assignment on ISIS' books and records. Subject to any re-conveyance of the Assigned Rights under Section 5.3 or Subsections 5.A.2(b) or (c), ISIS will disclose in the footnotes to its audited financial statements filed with the SEC that ISIS has (i) sold and assigned the Assigned Rights to DRC (or its permitted assigns) and (ii) granted DRC (or its permitted assigns) a security interest pursuant to the Security Agreement as general and continuing security for the due payment and performance of all of ISIS' obligations under this Agreement, the License Agreement and the ISIS Closing Documents.

3.9    Silicon Valley Bank Loan; Notes.


ARTICLE 4
CLOSING; DELIVERIES ON CLOSING

4.1    Closing.    Subject to satisfaction or waiver of all deliveries set forth below, the closing with respect to the sale, assignment, transfer, set-over and conveyance of the Assigned Rights (the "Closing") shall occur on the Effective Date.

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4.2    Deliveries by ISIS.    ISIS hereby agrees to deliver to DRC on the Effective Date:

4.3    Deliveries by DRC.    DRC hereby agrees to deliver to ISIS on the Effective Date:

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ARTICLE 5.A
SPECIAL EVENTS OF DEFAULT

5.A.1    Special Events of Default.    Following the occurrence of any Special Event of Default, DRC shall have a period of [***] days (such [***] days commencing on the earlier of (i) the date of receipt by DRC of written notification from ISIS of the occurrence of such Special Event of Default and (ii) the date DRC becomes actually aware of the occurrence of a Special Event of Default and has notified ISIS of same in writing) to notify ISIS in writing that either: (a) DRC waives such Special Event of Default, such that the parties' respective rights and obligations hereunder shall continue; or (b) DRC elects to exercise DRC's remedies under Subsection 5.A.2 below (collectively, the "Special Event of Default Remedies").

5.A.2    Special Event of Default Remedies.    If DRC elects to exercise the Special Event of Default Remedies or fails to waive in writing the Special Event of Default before the expiry of the [***] day period in Section 5.A.1, then:

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5.A.3    Payment Date and Interest on Overdue Amounts.    All amounts payable by ISIS under Section 5.A.2 shall be due within [***] days following written notice by DRC of its election to exercise the Special Event of Default Remedies or upon the expiry of the [***] day period in Section 5.A.1 if no written notice of waiver is provided by DRC. Overdue amounts shall bear interest at the rate of [***] per annum, compounded quarterly, until paid in full.

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ARTICLE 5
TERM AND TERMINATION

5.1    Term.    Subject to this Article 5 and Article 5.A, the term of this Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date and shall continue until the date of receipt by DRC of the Royalties for the calendar quarter ending on December 31, 2009; provided that, notwithstanding the term of this Agreement, DRC shall be entitled to receive any payments relating to the Royalty Interest accruing on or prior to the termination or expiry of this Agreement.

5.2    [Intentionally Deleted]

5.3    Termination on Event of Default

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5.4    Scope of DRC Remedies.    DRC acknowledges and agrees that if an event constitutes both an Event of Default and a Special Event of Default, DRC may exercise its remedies either under Section 5.3 or Article 5.A but it may not exercise its remedies under both Section 5.3 and Article 5.A.


ARTICLE 6
MUTUAL INDEMNITY

6.1    Mutual Indemnification.    ISIS hereby indemnifies and holds DRC harmless from any Damages suffered or incurred by DRC to the extent resulting from (i) any material breach of a representation or warranty of ISIS contained herein or in any certificate or update delivered pursuant to Subsections 1.2(b) or (c), or (ii) the material breach by ISIS of any covenant contained in this Agreement or any ISIS Closing Documents, or (iii) any Encumbrance of the Assigned Rights or any claim with respect to the Patents, the Licensed Patent Rights or the Product. DRC hereby indemnifies and holds ISIS harmless from any Damages suffered or incurred by ISIS to the extent resulting from (i) any material breach of a representation or warranty of DRC contained herein, or (ii) the material breach by DRC of any covenant contained in this Agreement or any DRC Closing Documents. For greater certainty, neither party shall indemnify the other for any Damages related to any action or inaction on the part of Eyetech.

6.2    Third Party Claims Procedure.    The indemnified party shall give notice (the "Indemnity Notice") to the indemnifying party specifying the particulars of any third party claim within [***] days after it receives notification of the claim; provided, however, that failure to give such notice within such time period shall not prejudice the rights of the indemnified party except to the extent that the failure to give such notice materially adversely affects the ability of the indemnifying party to defend the claim or to cure the breach of the representation, warranty, covenant or obligation giving rise to the claim. Subject to the terms of this Section 6.2, the indemnifying party shall have sole control over the defense and settlement of such claim. The indemnifying party may not settle or compromise the claim without the prior written consent of the indemnified party unless such settlement or compromise (i) involves no payment (whether by cash, securities or other instrument), assignment, granting of a license or admission of fault or wrongdoing by the indemnified party and (ii) the indemnified party receives a comprehensive general release of all claims from the applicable third parties. The indemnified party shall provide to the indemnifying party, in confidence, all files, books, records and other information in its possession or control which may be relevant to the defense of such claim. The indemnified party shall co-operate in all reasonable respects in the defense of such claim but at the expense of the indemnifying party. If the indemnifying party fails to diligently defend such claim throughout the period

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that such claim exists, its right to defend the claim shall terminate and the indemnified party may assume the defense of such claim at the sole expense of the indemnifying party. In such event, the indemnified party may compromise or settle such claim, without the consent of the indemnifying party.

6.3    Limitation on Indemnity.    Neither party may make a claim for indemnity pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof unless and until the aggregate dollar amount of all such party's Damages exceeds $[***]. Furthermore, notwithstanding Section 6.1 of this Agreement: (a) ISIS' obligation to indemnify DRC pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will not exceed the product of (i) [***] multiplied by (ii) the total accrued payments received by ISIS pursuant to Section 1.2 at the time of such indemnification; and (b) DRC's obligation to indemnify ISIS pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will not exceed the product of (i) [***] multiplied by (ii) the total amounts paid (or if not paid, due and payable) by DRC pursuant to Section 1.2 at the time of such indemnification.

6.4    No Limitation on Special Event of Default Remedies.    Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Article 6 shall not apply to or limit any Special Event of Default Remedies.


ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS

7.1    Additional Documents and Acts; Powers of Attorney.

7.2    Specific Performance.    Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that the other party may have no adequate remedy at law if it fails to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement. In such event, each of the parties agrees that the other party shall have the right, in addition to any other rights it may have (whether at law or in equity), to pursue equitable remedies such as injunction and specific performance of this Agreement.

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7.3    Notices.    All notices, consents, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person, sent by overnight courier, facsimile transmission or posted by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

or to such other address or addresses as DRC or ISIS may from time to time designate by notice as provided herein. Any such notice shall be deemed given when actually received when so delivered personally or by overnight courier or if mailed, other than during a period of general discontinuance or disruption of postal service due to strike, lockout or otherwise, on the fifth (5th) day after its postmarked date thereof or if sent by facsimile transmission on the date sent if such day is a business

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day or the next following business day if such day is not a business day. For the purposes of this Agreement, "business day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a statutory or civic holiday observed in Toronto, Ontario or Carlsbad, California.

7.4    Successors and Assigns.    This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of ISIS and DRC. This Agreement may not be assigned in whole or in part by either party without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however that (i) DRC may assign this Agreement in whole or in part by way of [***] and/or to [***] and/or as part of a sale of a material part of DRC whether by way of reorganization or otherwise, without the consent of ISIS provided DRC gives prompt written notice of such assignment to ISIS and the assignee (or in the case of any financial institution or other lender, any purchaser from such financial institution or other lender) agrees in writing to be bound hereby and (ii) ISIS may assign this Agreement in connection with the sale of all or substantially all of its business (whether by sale of assets, stock or merger) without the consent of DRC provided ISIS gives prompt written notice of such assignment to DRC and the assignee agrees in writing to be bound hereby.

7.5    Expenses.    Each party shall be responsible for and bear all of its own costs and expenses (including but not limited to any legal fees, any accountants' fees and any brokers' or finders' or investment banking fees or any prior commitment in respect thereof) with regard to the negotiation and consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party represents and warrants to the other that the other party will not be liable for any brokerage commission, finder's fee or other like payment in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby because of any action taken by, or agreement or understanding reached by, that party.

7.6    Entire Agreement.    This Agreement, together with the Schedules to this Agreement and officer's certificates and other documents to be delivered pursuant hereto (which are incorporated herein by reference), supersedes any other agreement, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by the parties hereto relating to the matters contemplated hereby, including the LOI and the letter of intent between the parties dated [***], 2004, and constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Any conflict or inconsistency between the main body of this Agreement, the Schedules and/or any other documents to be delivered pursuant hereto shall be resolved in accordance with the following order of priority: (a) main body of this Agreement; (b) Schedules; and (c) other documents, except that the Schedule of Exceptions is intended to qualify ISIS' representations and warranties under this Agreement.

7.7    True Sale Security Agreement.

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7.8    Amendments, Supplements, Waivers.    This Agreement may be amended or supplemented only by a written agreement signed by DRC and ISIS. Any waiver of, or consent to depart from, the requirements of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective only if it is in writing and signed by the party giving it, and only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it has been given. No failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of such right. No single or partial exercise of any such right shall preclude any other or further exercise of such right or the exercise of any other right.

7.9    Interpretation.    When a reference is made in this Agreement to Articles, Sections or Schedules, such reference shall be to an Article, Section or Schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The words "include," "includes" and "including" when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words "without limitation" and shall not be construed to limit any general statement which it follows to the specific or similar items or matters immediately following it. "Person" includes an individual, body corporate, partnership, joint venture, cooperative, trust or unincorporated organization, domestic or foreign government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or any other entity recognized by law. Neither party hereto shall be or be deemed to be the drafter of this Agreement for the purposes of construing this Agreement against one party or the other.

7.10    Public Announcement.    The parties agree to discuss and coordinate all public announcements concerning the transactions contemplated herein except as may be necessary, in the opinion of counsel to the party making such disclosure, to comply with the requirements of any applicable law. If any such public statement or release is so required, the party making such disclosure shall consult with the other party prior to making such statement or release, and the parties shall use reasonable efforts, acting in good faith, to agree upon a text for such statement or release which is satisfactory to all parties. The form of press release to be issued by DRC immediately after Closing with respect to this transaction shall be mutually agreed to by the parties on or prior to the Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit DRC or any of its affiliates from disclosing DRC's interest in the Assigned Rights to any of its or their affiliates, agents, representatives and employees, in any annual or other periodic corporate report, to any financing sources (whether equity or debt) and its or their legal, financial or industry advisors, or to any actual or potential underwriter and its legal, accounting and industry advisors, in connection with securing financing.

7.11    Headings and Captions.    The headings and captions in this Agreement are for convenience and reference purposes only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

7.12    Currency.    Unless specified otherwise, all statements of or references to monetary amounts in this Agreement are to US Dollars.

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7.13    Severability.    If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be given full force and effect.

7.14    Governing Law.    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Subject to Section 7.15, the parties hereto attorn to and submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York.

7.15    Binding Arbitration of Certain Disputes.

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7.16    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.    EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO PURSUANT HERETO AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY. THE PROVISION OF THIS SECTION 7.15 SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY ACTION TO ENFORCE THE LICENSED PATENT RIGHTS AGAINST EYETECH OR OTHERS IN THE FIELD.

7.17    Time.    Time is of the essence of this Agreement and each of its provisions.

        7.18    Counterparts and Facsimile Execution.    This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. To evidence the fact that it has executed this Agreement, a party may send a copy of its executed counterpart to the other party by facsimile transmission. That party shall be deemed to

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have executed this Agreement on the date it sent such facsimile transmission. In such event, such party shall forthwith deliver to the other party the counterpart of this Agreement executed by such party.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

    ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  
B. LYNNE PARSHALL      
Name: B. Lynne Parshall
Title: Executive Vice President, CFO and Director

 

 

DRUG ROYALTY USA, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  
BEHZAD KHOSROWSHAHI      
Name: Behzad Khosrowshahi Title: President

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SCHEDULE "A"
DEFINITIONS

        Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined in this Schedule "A" shall have the meanings attributed thereto in the License Agreement.

        "Additional Period" means the number of days between the date of termination of the License Agreement and the date of first commercial sale of the Product under the New License Agreement.

        "Aggregate Payments" has the meaning set forth in Subsection 5.A.2(a) of this Agreement.

        "Aggregate Receipts" has the meaning set forth in Subsection 5.A.2(a) of this Agreement.

        "Agreement" has the meaning set forth on the cover page of this Agreement.

        "Arbitrable Matter" has the meaning set forth in Subsection 7.15(a) of this Agreement.

        "Assigned Rights" means ISIS' entire right, title and interest in and to the following rights under the License Agreement:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except for as specified in clauses (i) through (iv) above, ISIS retains all it right, title and interests under the License Agreement, including, but not limited to its right to any amounts payable by Eyetech as provided under Sections 3.1.1 or 3.1.2 of the License Agreement and, subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Security Agreement, the right to exploit (including through the granting of Permitted Licenses) the Patents, Licensed Patent Rights and/or Product outside the Field (collectively, the "ISIS Rights").

        "Business Day" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3 of this Agreement.

        "Cash Burn" has the meaning attributed thereto in Section 3.9 of this Agreement.

        "Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.

        "Communication" has the meaning set forth in Subsection 3.1(b) of this Agreement.

        [***]

        "Cure Period" has the meaning set out in the definition of Special Events of Default.

        "Damages" means any damage, loss, claim, cost, liability, action, cause of action, demand or expense, including reasonable legal fees, suffered or incurred by either party in connection with this Agreement, the Security Agreement and/or the Eyetech Consent.

        "Default Date" has the meaning set forth in Subsection 5.A.2(a) of this Agreement.

        "DRC" has the meaning set forth on the cover page of this Agreement.

        "DRC Closing Documents" has the meaning set forth in Subsection 4.3(b).

        "Effective Date" has the meaning set forth on the cover page of this Agreement.

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        "Encumbrance" means any lien, charge, security interest, mortgage, option, privilege, pledge, trust or deemed trust (whether contractual, statutory or otherwise arising) or any other encumbrance, right or claim of any other person of any kind whatsoever whether choate or inchoate, other than the Permitted Licenses.

        "EU" means the European Union as constituted from time to time.

        "EU Application" means a patent application filed by ISIS with the European Patent Office that if issued would meet the requirements for an EU Patent.

        "EU Patent" means one or more patent(s) issued in the EU, the issued claims of which [***].

        "EU Percentage" means (i) [***] per cent ([***]%) if the applicable Special Event of Default occurs during the first [***] months following the first commercial sale of the Product in the US (the "US Twenty-four Month Period"); or (ii) the percentage of worldwide Net Sales that are comprised of Net Sales of the Product in the EU for the [***] calendar months immediately preceding the Default Date, if the Default Date occurs after the expiry of the US [***] Month Period. The percentage of worldwide Net Sales that are comprised of Net Sales of the Product in the EU shall be determined by examining EyeTech's royalty reports delivered under the License Agreement. If such reports do not provide enough information to determine the appropriate percentage, then the appropriate percentage shall be determined based on information of US and EU Net Sales as reported by IMS. If IMS (or a comparable company acceptable to both DRC and ISIS, acting reasonably) is not able to provide such data, then the appropriate percentage shall be determined based on publicly available information acceptable to both DRC and ISIS acting reasonably.

        "EU [***]Month Period" has the meaning set forth in the definition of US Percentage.

        "Event of Default" means any Level I Event of Default or any Level II Event of Default.

        "Exercise Date" means the date upon which ISIS must or does exercise any right or perform any obligation of ISIS under the Patents or Licensed Patent Rights (to the extent that they directly or indirectly relate to the Field and ISIS' obligations under this Agreement) to comply with the License Agreement or must enforce or defend such right to avoid the loss of such right or any adverse effect to ISIS' rights under the Patents or Licensed Patent Rights to the extent that they directly or indirectly relate to the Field and ISIS' obligations under this Agreement.

        "Eyetech" means Eyetech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

        "Eyetech Breach Date" has the meaning set out in the definition of Special Events of Default.

        "Eyetech Consent" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3 of this Agreement.

        "FDA" means the United States Food and Drug Administration.

        "Field" means [***].

        "First Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in clause (i) of Subsection 1.2(a) of this Agreement.

        "Independent" has the meaning set forth in Subsection 7.15(b) of this Agreement.

        "IMS" means IMS Health Incorporated.

        "ISIS" has the meaning set forth on the cover page of this Agreement.

        "ISIS Closing Documents" has the meaning set forth in Subsection 4.2(d) of this Agreement.

        "ISIS Rights" has the meaning set forth in the definition of Assigned Rights above.

        "ISIS Royalty Interest" means all Royalties not forming part of the Royalty Interest.

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        "Level I Events of Default".    Each of the following events will constitute a Level I Event of Default under this Agreement:

26


        "Level II Events of Default".    Each of the following events will constitute a Level II Event of Default under this Agreement:

        "License Agreement" means the license agreement dated as of December 31, 2001 between ISIS and Eyetech, as such agreement may be amended, replaced, succeeded or substituted from time to time.

        "Licensed Patent Rights" has the meaning ascribed to it in the License Agreement.

        "Liquidated Damages Amount" has the meaning set forth in Subsection 5.A.2(a) of this Agreement.

        "Liquidity" has the meaning attributed thereto in Section 3.9 of this Agreement.

        "Loan" means the loan granted by Silicon Valley Bank to ISIS in the original principal amount of US$32,000,000 pursuant to the Silicon Valley Bank Agreement.

        [***]

        "LOI" has the meaning set forth on the cover page of this Agreement.

        "Major Market" means the [***].

        [***]

        "Material Agreement" at any time means, any contract, commitment or instrument to which ISIS is a party that is listed as an exhibit to a periodic or current report filed by ISIS with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at such time.

        "Minimum Liquidity" at the time immediately prior to the First Payment Date, Second Payment Date or Third Payment Date, as applicable, means Liquidity equal to the total of: (i) all amounts (including principal and interest) of the Loan (or any replacement thereof pursuant to Section 3.9 of this Agreement) then outstanding; (ii) the Liquidated Damages Amount, assuming for the purposes of this definition that the Purchase Price component that is due on the immediately following payment date has been paid by DRC; and (iii) ISIS' Cash Burn as the calculation relates to the [***] period ending immediately prior to the date of the certificate contemplated by Subsection 1.2(b).

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        "Naked Manufacturing License" means a Permitted License granted by ISIS that includes rights to one or more [***] Patents and that is a license to enable the manufacture of products (at scales of more than [***]) outside the Field to conduct drug development (but not solely drug research) but does not include a Permitted License to enable the manufacture of a product that is outside the Field and that is discovered, developed or commercialized under a bona fide collaboration between ISIS and a third party.

        "Net Sales" has the meaning set forth in the License Agreement [***], provided that if DRC re-conveys to ISIS the Assigned Rights, or any part thereof, pursuant to Subsection 5.3(a), Subsection 5.A.2 (b) or Subsection 5.A.2 (c) of this Agreement, "Net Sales" shall be deemed to mean the Net Sales that relate to the Assigned Rights, if any, that have been retained by DRC.

        "New Royalty Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3 of this Agreement.

        "New License Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3 of this Agreement.

        "New US Patent" means a US patent that is issued to ISIS based on the US Application, the issued claims of which [***].

        "Note Agreements" means, collectively, the Notes, the indenture between ISIS and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, as trustee, dated as of May 1, 2002 (the "Note Indenture") and any related documentation.

        "Notes" means the five and one half per cent (51/2%) convertible subordinated notes of ISIS due 2009.

        "Patents" means the patents listed on Schedule "E" hereto, as such Schedule may be updated from time to time pursuant to Subsection 1.2(c) or Subsection 3.1(d). For avoidance of doubt, "Patents" are included in the Licensed Patent Rights.

        "Permitted License(s)" means a license granted by ISIS to a third party to exploit the Patents outside the Field that does not grant the licensee thereunder a security interest in the Patents.

        "person" includes an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, syndicate, unincorporated organization, the Crown or any agency or instrumentality thereof or any other entity recognized by law.

        "Product" means Eyetech's EYE001 NX1838 non-antisense therapeutic product (also known as Macugen), or any product containing Eyetech's EYE001 NX1838 non-antisense therapeutic product for the treatment of ophthalmic conditions. The Product will also include any minor chemical modifications to EYE001 NX1838.

        "Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2 of this Agreement.

        "Representatives" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4 of this Agreement.

        "Royalties" means all of the royalties payable by Eyetech in respect of Net Sales made by Eyetech, its affiliates and sublicensees made on or before December 31, 2009 (as calculated in accordance with and as provided under Sections 3.1.3, 4.1 and 8.4 of the License Agreement) and any collections or recoveries received by ISIS or lump sum payments made by Eyetech or its sublicensees in lieu thereof, including in connection with any litigation to enforce the License Agreement or the Licensed Patent Rights.

        "Royalty Interest" means, in connection with Net Sales of the Product made on or before December 31, 2009:

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        "Schedule of Exceptions" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

        "Second Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in clause (ii) of Subsection 1.2(a) of this Agreement.

        "Secondary Market" means any country requested by DRC via written notice to ISIS to be treated as a Secondary Market country for the purposes hereof (effective upon ISIS' receipt of such notice).

        "Security Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6 of this Agreement.

        "Selected SVB Covenants" has the meaning set forth in Subsection 3.9(b) of this Agreement.

        "Silicon Valley Bank Agreement" means the loan and security agreement between ISIS and Silicon Valley Bank dated December 15, 2003.

        "Silicon Valley Bank Consent" has the meaning set forth in Subsection 4.2(d) of this Agreement.

        "Special Event of Default" means the occurrence of any one of the following events prior to the earlier of December 31, 2009 and the date on which both the [***]:

        "Special Event of Default Remedies" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.A.1 of this Agreement.

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        "Terminating Party" has the meaning set forth in Subsection 5.3(c) of this Agreement.

        "Third Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in clause (iii) of Subsection 1.2(a) of this Agreement.

        "US Application" means a US patent application filed by ISIS claiming [***] which if issued would meet the requirements for a New US Patent.

        "US Percentage" means (i) [***] if the applicable Special Event of Default occurs during the first [***] months following the first commercial sale of the Product in the EU (the "EU [***] Month Period"); or (ii) the percentage of worldwide Net Sales that are comprised of Net Sales of the Product in the United States for the [***] calendar months immediately preceding the Default Date, if the Default Date occurs after the expiry of the EU [***] Month Period. The percentage of worldwide Net Sales that are comprised of Net Sales of the Product in the United States shall be determined by examining EyeTech's royalty reports delivered under the License Agreement. If such reports do not provide enough information to determine the appropriate percentage, then the appropriate percentage shall be determined based on information of US and EU Net Sales as reported by IMS. If IMS (or a comparable company acceptable to both DRC and ISIS, acting reasonably) is not able to provide such data, then the appropriate percentage shall be determined based on publicly available information acceptable to both DRC and ISIS acting reasonably.

        "US [***] Month Period" has the meaning set forth in the definition of EU Percentage.

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SCHEDULE "B"
CALCULATION OF ROYALTY INTEREST AND ISIS ROYALTY INTEREST

        The following sets out an example of how any amounts payable to DRC and to ISIS (if applicable) pursuant to the Royalty Interest and the ISIS Royalty Interest, respectively, will be calculated:


Cumulative Net Sales as of
Expiry of First Calendar
Quarter of Year X

  Royalty Interest/
First DRC Payment

  ISIS Royalty Interest
US$100,000,000   100% of all royalties payable for first calendar quarter

(i.e.: 100% ×[***]% × US$100,000,000 = US$[***])
  Nil

Cumulative Net Sales as of
Expiry of Second Calendar
Quarter of Year X

  Royalty Interest/
Second DRC Payment

  ISIS Royalty Interest/
First ISIS Payment

US$600,000,000   (I) 100% of all royalties payable on cumulative Net Sales for Year X at or below the First Threshold

plus

(II) 50% of all royalties payable on cumulative Net Sales for Year X above the First Threshold but at or below the Second Threshold

less

(III) the First DRC Payment
(i.e.: (100% ×[***]% × US$500,000,000) + [50% ×[***]% × (US$600,000,000 – US$500,000,001)] – US$[***] =
US$[***])
  50% of all royalties payable on cumulative Net Sales for Year X above the First Threshold

(i.e.: 50% ×[***]% ×(US$600,000,000 – US$500,000,001) =
US$[***])

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Cumulative Net Sales as of
Expiry of Third Calendar
Quarter of Year X

  Royalty Interest
  ISIS Royalty Interest
US$1,100,000,000   (I) 100% of all royalties payable on cumulative Net Sales for Year X at or below the First Threshold

plus

(II) 50% of all royalties payable on cumulative Net Sales for Year X above the First Threshold but at or below the Second Threshold

plus

(III) 10% of all royalties payable on cumulative Net Sales for Year X above the Second Threshold

less

(IV) the total of the First DRC Payment and the Second DRC Payment

(i.e.: (100% × [***]% × US$500,000,000) + [50% × [***]% × (US$1,000,000,000 – US$500,000,001)] + [10% × [***]% × (US$1,100,000,000 – US$1,000,000,001)] – (US$[***] + US$[***] =
US$[***])
  (i) 50% of all royalties payable on cumulative Net Sales for Year X above the First Threshold but at or below the Second Threshold

plus

(ii) 90% of all royalties payable on cumulative Net Sales for Year X above the Second Threshold

less

(iii) the First ISIS Payment

(i.e.: [50% × [***]% × (US$1,000,000,000 – US$500,000,001)] + [90% × [***]% × (US$1,100,000,000 – US$1,000,000,001)] – US$[***] =
US$[***])

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SCHEDULE "E"
PATENTS

[***]

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SCHEDULE "F"

EXAMPLE TERMINATION EVENT RE-CONVEYANCE CALCULATION

Assuming that (i) DRC has re-conveyed to ISIS the Assigned Rights as they relate to the EU (as a result of the occurrence of a Special Event of Default) (the "EU Re-conveyance"); (ii) in connection with the EU Re-conveyance it is determined that the EU Percentage equals 42%; (iii) a Termination Event occurs following the EU Re-conveyance and prior to the Third Payment Date and (iv) as a result of a dispute DRC is not required to pay the third installment or any Damages on account thereof, then the portion of the Assigned Rights that are to be re-conveyed by DRC to ISIS would be calculated based on the following:

In this example, as at the Termination Event, DRC would therefore be required to re-convey [***]% (i.e. 100% less [***]%) of the Assigned Rights that DRC held as at such date to ISIS.

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QuickLinks

AGREEMENT FOR SALE AND ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS
ARTICLE 1 ASSIGNMENT AND SALE
ARTICLE 2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
ARTICLE 3 COVENANTS
ARTICLE 4 CLOSING; DELIVERIES ON CLOSING
ARTICLE 5.A SPECIAL EVENTS OF DEFAULT
ARTICLE 5 TERM AND TERMINATION
ARTICLE 6 MUTUAL INDEMNITY
ARTICLE 7 MISCELLANEOUS
SCHEDULE "A" DEFINITIONS
SCHEDULE "B" CALCULATION OF ROYALTY INTEREST AND ISIS ROYALTY INTEREST
SCHEDULE "E" PATENTS
SCHEDULE "F"